Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

International Civic Engagement Studies (ICES) is a peer-reviewed journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We publish original research articles, review papers, and conceptual analyses related to civic engagement, citizenship education, social justice in education, and related interdisciplinary topics that have not been published elsewhere in any language, and are not under review in any other journal.

This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publishing process: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher (Civic Academia Network).

Duties of Authors

  1. Reporting Standards:
    Authors must provide an accurate account of the research conducted and offer an objective interpretation of its significance. Data must be presented truthfully and without fabrication, falsification, or manipulation. Sufficient detail and references should be provided to allow replication of the study.
  2. Originality and Plagiarism:
    Authors must ensure the submission is entirely original and appropriately cites the work of others. Direct quotations must be clearly indicated and properly referenced. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is unethical and unacceptable.
  3. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submissions:
    Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Redundant publication — publishing substantially similar content in multiple journals — is strictly prohibited.
  4. Acknowledgment of Sources:
    Authors must appropriately acknowledge all sources of data and ideas that influenced their work. Proper citations must be provided for previously published materials.
  5. Authorship:
    Authorship must be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the research. All contributors must be listed as co-authors, and all co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before submission.
  6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest:
    Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their work. All funding sources must be acknowledged.
  7. Fundamental Errors in Published Work:
    If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published article, they must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in issuing a retraction or correction.

 

Duties of Editors

  1. Publication Decisions:
    Editors are responsible for deciding which submissions will be published. Their decisions must be based on the manuscript’s originality, clarity, validity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, as well as peer review feedback. Editors must ensure editorial independence and integrity.
  2. Peer Review:
    Editors must ensure a fair, transparent, and timely peer-review process. Manuscripts should be reviewed by at least one expert in the relevant field, and the review process must be blind to ensure objectivity.
  3. Fair Play:
    Editors must evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, or institutional affiliation.
  4. Confidentiality:
    Editors must maintain confidentiality of all submitted materials and communications with reviewers. Manuscripts must not be shared or disclosed outside the editorial and peer review process.
  5. Conflicts of Interest:
    Editors must not handle manuscripts in which they have any conflict of interest. They must recuse themselves and delegate editorial duties to avoid bias.

 

Duties of Reviewers

  1. Confidentiality:
    All submitted manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share or discuss manuscripts with others without prior permission from the editor.
  2. Objectivity:
    Reviewers must conduct objective evaluations, providing constructive feedback supported by clear arguments. Personal criticism of authors is unacceptable.
  3. Acknowledgment of Sources:
    Reviewers should identify relevant published work that the authors have not cited and report any suspected plagiarism, duplication, or ethical misconduct to the editor.
  4. Conflicts of Interest:
    Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest and decline to review manuscripts where such conflicts exist. They must not use information from the review for personal gain.
  5. Timeliness:
    Reviewers must respond promptly and return reviews within the agreed timeframe. If a delay is unavoidable, they must inform the editor immediately so alternative reviewers can be assigned.

International Civic Engagement Studies (ICES) upholds these ethical standards to foster trust, credibility, and academic integrity within the global research community. Any concerns or violations regarding ethics should be reported to the editorial board.